Your Right to Know

City officials yesterday told the man and woman who want to open a Downtown strip club that the
Downtown Commission doesn’t have the authority to consider the proposal.

At the same time, officials say they are retooling the Downtown District code and guidelines to
specifically prohibit adult-entertainment establishments and stores.

“By adding additional language, we’re kind of closing the door on the issue,” said Vince
Papsidero, the city’s planning administrator.

Earlier this month, Charles Fischer and Tiffany Ranalli went to the Downtown Commission for a
certificate of appropriateness to open a “gentlemen’s club” at the site of a former gay bar at 205
N. 5th St., just north of Spring Street.

The commission tabled the proposal to consult with city lawyers.

“This has never come up before,” Commission Chairman Stephen Wittmann said yesterday.

Papsidero sent a letter to Fischer and Ranalli on Wednesday that said the city attorney’s office
determined that changes made to city code in 2003 allow adult-entertainment establishments only in
areas specifically zoned for manufacturing.

“The Downtown District was never included as part of that available acreage,” Assistant City
Attorney Josh Cox said.

Papsidero said the current Downtown District code neither prohibits nor allows adult
entertainment.

Fischer said, “It’s a kind of foggy area to say why we can’t do it. I kind of feel like it isn’t
really a fair deal.”

In the meantime, the city is holding an open house at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the conference room at
109 N. Front St. to present the proposed changes to the Downtown District code and guidelines. The
public review period ends May 31.

The district and the code governing it were established in 1997. The code has not been updated
since then. Columbus City Council must approve any changes.

Fischer said, “At least I have my paperwork in before they are going to do that.”